Takbir

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Islam Portal  v • d • e 
Arabic
الله أَكْبَر
Transliteration
Allahu Akbar, allāhu akbar
Translation
God is great
For other usages of the phrase "Allahu Akbar", see Allahu Akbar (disambiguation).

The takbīr or takbeer (تَكْبِير) is the Arabic name for the phrase Allāhu Akbar, الله أكبر. Usually translated "God is great" or "God is [the] greatest," it is a common Arabic expression, used as both an informal expression of faith and as a formal declaration.

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[edit] Definition and grammar

The form Allāhu is the nominative of Allah "[the one] God" The form akbar is the elative of the adjective kabīr "great". In Semitic languages, an elative may indicate a superlative (best), or a comparative (better). The term takbīr (تَكْبِير) itself is the stem II verbal noun (tafʿīlun) of the triliteral root k-b-r "great".[1]

The word akbar as used in the takbir indicates the superlative, usually translated as "greatest". In Arabic usage, akbar may also be used as a comparative, in which sense it may be approximately translated as "greater" (dictionaries carry both senses of akbar). The translation as comparative does not apply to the case at hand, because no comparandum is present.

[edit] Usage

This phrase is recited by Muslims in numerous different situations. For example, when they are happy or wish to express approval, when an animal is slaughtered in a halaal fashion, when they want to praise a speaker, during battles, and even times of extreme stress or euphoria.

The phrase is said during each stage of both obligatory prayers, which are supposed to be performed five times a day, and supererogatory prayers, which are performed at will. The Muslim call to prayer, or adhan, and to commence the prayer, or iqama, also contains the phrase, which is heard in cities all over the Muslim world.

Note that takbīr (تَكْبِير) is only the name of the expression, while the phrase itself is "Allahu Akbar". In the Islamic world, instead of applause, often someone will shout "takbir" and the crowd will respond "Allahu Akbar" in chorus.

[edit] Takbir on flags

The phrase "Allahu Akbar" is written on the center of the flag of Iraq, along the borders of the central white stripe on the flag of Iran, and beneath the Shahadah in the 2004 draft constitution of Afghanistan in white script on the central red background.

Current flag of Iraq with stylized Kufic script

Current flag of the Islamic republic of Iran, introduced in 1980

Flag of the 1930s Waziristan resistance movement

[edit] See also

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ Some dictionary definitions of k-b-r derivatives include:
    • E. W. Lane, Arabic English Lexicon, 1893
      • kabīr: great in body, or corporeal substance, and in estimation or rank or dignity
      • akbar: greater, and greatest, in body, or corporeal substance, and in estimation or rank or dignity, and more, or most, advanced in age, older, and oldest
    • F. Steingass, 1970
      • kabīr: Great, large, bulky, immense, heavy, serious, senior, elder...
      • akbar: Greater, greatest.
    • R. Baalbaki, 1995
      • kabīr: Great, big, large, sizeable, bulky, huge, senior...
      • akbar: Greater, bigger, larger, major, senior, superior.

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